The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-16

present. WnereDy lawful release can De
secured is attained by so much circumlocu-
tiOn that many an innocent man serves
time in prison from his utter helplessness.
and inability to reach the proper authOr-
ties and bring the necessary pressure to
bear upon them. Nor are the innocent the
only class who suffer. The second class of
our division. by far the largest of the three,
is composed of those who have been guilty
OF violation of the law, and have been
sentenced to definite term. from which
there is no relief. IT reform is the true
purpose of imprisonment, it follows as a
natural sequence, that the object is not
served after reform has taken place, and
injustice to the reformed is the result.
Why not institute some means whereby it
may be known when reform has taken
place. when the ends of justice have been
served? Then let the doors swing open.
and take the reformed by the hand and
assist him to life where crime is not a
part of the natural order of things. What
good reason can be given for sentencing a
man to definite period of years. regardless
of the effect it may have on him? But the
opponents OF this will say. 1T might be
ascertained that reformation has taken
place before he enters the prison; would you
release him?" Most certainly. Which is
best, that he should never enter the prison.
but make restitution for the wrong SO far
as possible, and lead useful life, or serve a
term in the school of vice. and go out upon
the world an educated criminal. disgraced.
scorned and suspicioned by the would-be-
just. manhood's energies wasted, and the
door of nseful pursuits closed against him?
Have you never known those who have
been guilty of crime but evaded the penalty
of the law through the efforts of influential
friends, or by failure to secure conviction,
from some cause. who have lived useful
lives? Yet they may have been constructed
of first-claSs criminal material, but kind
destiny saved them from the further fall.
How many of the four hundred inmates
of this prison belong to the third class.
are habitual or professional criminals? A
comparative few. But let them be few or
many. the present system only deprives
them of their liberty for a Certain time,
then turns them loose again on society.
They have paid the penalty of their former
crimes and the thing for them to consider
is, to avoid being caught. to be made to
serve another term. Is society protected?
Is there not premium on crime by making
it science? The more expert, the less the
probability of being caught. Is there any
good reason for turning man loose on So
ciety, bOasting that he will pursue his
criminal course, and keeping those confined
who would gladly take their place in the
world and live honorable lives? We think
there can be but one answer to this from
those who look toward the general good of
all.
Then the question arises, is it possible to
have a criminal system whereby those who
are in prison. who do not belong there
would be liberated. and those who can see
no better purpose in life than criminal
career, would be kept in prison? No, not
Immediately; but the writer knows it is
possible to improve on the present system.
and will give some of his ideas in the next
issue of THE MIRROR. V.
Nov. II, 1887.